1981 Norwegian First Division

37th season of top-tier football league in Norway

Football league season

1\. divisjonSeason| 1981

|

Dates| 24 April – 18 October
Champions| Vålerengen
2nd title
Relegated| Brann
Haugar
Lyn
European Cup| Vålerengen
Cup Winners' Cup| Lillestrøm
UEFA Cup| Viking
Matches played| 132
Goals scored| 367 (2.78 per match)
Top goalscorer| Pål Jacobsen
(16 goals)
Biggest home win| Fredrikstad 6–0 Brann
(23 August 1981)
Biggest away win| Haugar 0–6 Fredrikstad
(17 August 1981)
Highest scoring| Viking 5–3 Start
(18 October 1981)
Longest winning run| Brann
Fredrikstad
Rosenborg
Viking
Vålerengen
(3 games)
Longest unbeaten run| Fredrikstad
Moss
Rosenborg
(9 games)
Longest winless run| Haugar
(9 games)
Longest losing run| Brann
HamKam
Lyn
(6 games)
Highest attendance| 21,377
Rosenborg 2–2 Vålerengen
(29 June 1981)
Lowest attendance| 1,085
Lyn 1–2 Bryne
(27 September 1981)
Average attendance| 5,880  15.6%

← 1980

1982 →

The 1981 1\. divisjon was the 37th completed season of top division football in Norway.

## Overview[edit]

22 games were played with 2 points given for wins and 1 for draws. Number eleven and twelve were relegated. The winners of the two groups of the Second Division were promoted, as well as the winner of a series of play-off matches between number ten in the 1. divisjon and the two second-placed teams in the two groups of the 2\. divisjon.

Vålerengen won the championship, their second league title.

## Teams and locations[edit]

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Team  |  Ap.  | Location  | Stadium

|
|
|

Brann | 28 | Bergen | Brann Stadion
Bryne | 6 | Bryne | Bryne Stadion
Fredrikstad | 32 | Fredrikstad | Fredrikstad Stadion
Hamarkameratene | 10 | Hamar | Briskeby
Haugar | 1 | Haugesund | Sakkestadbanen
Lillestrøm | 18 | Lillestrøm | Åråsen Stadion
Lyn | 23 | Oslo | Ullevaal Stadion
Moss | 8 | Moss | Melløs Stadion
Rosenborg | 18 | Trondheim | Lerkendal Stadion
Start | 14 | Kristiansand | Kristiansand Stadion
Vålerengen | 26 | Oslo | Bislett Stadion
Viking | 34 | Stavanger | Stavanger Stadion

## League table[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Vålerengen (C) | 22  | 9  | 11  | 2  | 44  | 27  | +17  | 29  | Qualification for the European Cup preliminary round
2  | Viking | 22  | 11  | 6  | 5  | 32  | 30  | +2  | 28  | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
3  | Rosenborg | 22  | 9  | 8  | 5  | 35  | 24  | +11  | 26  |
4  | Fredrikstad | 22  | 9  | 7  | 6  | 45  | 26  | +19  | 25
5  | Moss | 22  | 8  | 8  | 6  | 27  | 27  | 0  | 24
6  | Hamarkameratene | 22  | 8  | 6  | 8  | 25  | 21  | +4  | 22
7  | Lillestrøm | 22  | 6  | 10  | 6  | 26  | 25  | +1  | 22  | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round
8  | Start | 22  | 8  | 5  | 9  | 36  | 38  | −2  | 21  |
9  | Bryne | 22  | 6  | 9  | 7  | 29  | 34  | −5  | 21
10  | Brann (R) | 22  | 5  | 7  | 10  | 26  | 40  | −14  | 17  | Qualification for the relegation play-offs
11  | Haugar (R) | 22  | 2  | 12  | 8  | 20  | 38  | −18  | 16  | Relegation to Second Division
12  | Lyn (R) | 22  | 4  | 5  | 13  | 22  | 37  | −15  | 13

Source: NIFS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

## Results[edit]

Home \ Away  | BRA | BRY | FRE | HAM | HAU | LIL | LYN | MOS | ROS | IKS | VIK | VÅL

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Brann | -- | 2–2  | 1–1  | 2–0  | 6–0  | 3–0  | 1–0  | 0–2  | 0–3  | 2–2  | 1–2  | 0–1
Bryne | 1–2  | -- | 2–0  | 0–2  | 1–1  | 2–4  | 0–0  | 0–0  | 1–1  | 2–0  | 2–2  | 0–2
Fredrikstad | 6–0  | 1–1  | -- | 0–1  | 1–1  | 2–2  | 3–2  | 4–1  | 0–0  | 2–2  | 3–0  | 2–1
Hamarkameratene | 1–1  | 5–2  | 2–1  | -- | 1–1  | 2–2  | 2–0  | 0–1  | 3–0  | 0–1  | 0–0  | 1–2
Haugar | 0–0  | 1–1  | 0–6  | 0–2  | -- | 2–3  | 2–2  | 0–0  | 1–1  | 0–1  | 1–3  | 1–1
Lillestrøm | 0–0  | 0–1  | 0–1  | 1–0  | 2–2  | -- | 1–0  | 0–0  | 1–1  | 0–0  | 6–0  | 0–2
Lyn | 3–2  | 1–2  | 0–5  | 0–0  | 1–0  | 1–2  | -- | 5–0  | 1–1  | 2–3  | 2–0  | 2–4
Moss | 3–1  | 0–1  | 2–1  | 2–1  | 1–1  | 2–0  | 2–0  | -- | 1–1  | 0–1  | 1–1  | 2–2
Rosenborg | 5–0  | 3–1  | 4–2  | 2–0  | 0–2  | 1–1  | 1–0  | 3–1  | -- | 4–2  | 0–1  | 2–2
Start | 4–0  | 3–4  | 3–1  | 1–1  | 1–2  | 2–0  | 0–0  | 1–3  | 0–1  | -- | 4–0  | 0–4
Viking | 2–0  | 2–1  | 0–2  | 2–0  | 2–0  | 0–0  | 3–0  | 2–1  | 2–0  | 5–3  | -- | 1–1
Vålerengen | 2–2  | 2–2  | 1–1  | 0–1  | 2–2  | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–2  | 2–1  | 5–2  | 2–2  | --

Source: nifs.no (in Norwegian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

## Relegation play-offs[edit]

The qualification play-off matches were contested between Brann (10th in the 1. divisjon), Pors (2nd in the Second Division – Group A), and Molde (2nd in the 2. divisjon – Group B). Molde won on goal difference and were promoted to the 1. divisjon.

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Molde (O, P) | 2  | 1  | 0  | 1  | 3  | 2  | +1  | 2  | Promotion to First Division
2  | Brann (R) | 2  | 1  | 0  | 1  | 2  | 2  | 0  | 2  | Relegation to Second Division
3  | Pors | 2  | 1  | 0  | 1  | 3  | 4  | −1  | 2  | Remained in Second Division

Source: rsssf.no
(O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Results

* Molde 3–1 Pors
* Pors 2–1 Brann
* Brann 1–0 Molde

## Season statistics[edit]

### Top scorers[edit]

Rank  | Player  | Club  | Goals

|
|
|

1  |  Pål Jacobsen | Vålerengen | 16
2  |  Svein Mathisen | Start | 12
3  |  Bernt Mæland | Bryne | 9
Odd Iversen | Rosenborg
Vidar Hansen | Fredrikstad
Per Egil Ahlsen | Fredrikstad
Geir Henæs | Moss
8  |  Morten Haugen | Vålerengen | 7
Ingvar Dalhaug | Brann
Peter Osborne | Haugar
Tor Arne Granerud | Ham-Kam
Kjell Ødegaard | Lyn

### Attendances[edit]

Pos  | Team  | Total | High | Low | Average | Change

|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Rosenborg | 143,752  | 21,377  | 8,000  | 13,068 | +36.9%†
2  | Vålerengen | 112,739  | 16,589  | 4,958  | 10,249 | +56.7%†
3  | Viking | 85,013  | 12,855  | 5,482  | 7,728 | −9.2%†
4  | Brann | 84,528  | 11,734  | 4,990  | 7,684  | n/a2
5  | Moss | 55,397  | 8,961  | 3,423  | 5,036 | −2.3%†
6  | Fredrikstad | 52,460  | 7,093  | 3,041  | 4,769 | −5.6%†
7  | Bryne | 46,860  | 9,601  | 1,943  | 4,260 | −18.1%†
8  | Lillestrøm | 45,736  | 10,230  | 1,904  | 4,158 | −3.4%†
9  | Start | 45,621  | 7,571  | 1,182  | 4,147 | −25.8%†
10  | HamKam | 39,533  | 6,300  | 2,111  | 3,594  | n/a2
11  | Haugar | 33,670  | 5,112  | 1,570  | 3,061  | n/a2
12  | Lyn | 30,882  | 9,699  | 1,085  | 2,807 | +62.4%†
| League total  | 776,191  | 21,377  | 1,085  | 5,880 | +15.6%†

Source: nifs.no
Notes:
2: Team played last season in 2. divisjon.

## References[edit]

* Norway – List of final tables (RSSSF)
* Norsk internasjonal fotballstatistikk (NIFS)

* v
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Eliteserien

Seasons|

| League of Norway|

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|

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First Division|

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Clubs|

| 2024|

* Bodø/Glimt
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* Molde
* Odd
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|

Former|

* Aalesund
* Bryne
* Djerv 1919
* Eik-Tønsberg
* Frigg
* Fyllingen (defunct)
* Gjøvik-Lyn
* Haugar
* Hødd
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* Vard Haugesund

Competition|

* Teams
* winners
* Players
* foreign
* Stadia
* Referees

Statistics and awards|

* Records
* All-time table
* Hat-tricks
* Highest scores
* Top scorers
* Players with 50+ goals
* Kniksen Award

Associated competitions|

* Mesterfinalen
* Norwegian Cup
* Play-offs
* UEFA Champions League
* UEFA Europa League

Other|

* In European football
* Norsk Toppfotball

Category

* v
* t
* e

1981 in Norwegian football

« 1980

1982 »

| League competitions|

* First Division
* Second Division
* Third Division

|

Cup competitions|

| Men|

* Norwegian Football Cup
* Final

|

Women|

* Norwegian Women's Cup

European competitions|

* European Cup
* '80–'81
* '81–'82
* European Cup Winners' Cup
* '80–'81
* '81–'82
* UEFA Cup
* '80–'81
* '81–'82

Club seasons

First Division|

* Brann
* Bryne
* Fredrikstad
* Hamarkameratene
* Haugar
* Lillestrøm
* Lyn
* Moss
* Rosenborg
* Start
* Vålerengen
* Viking

Second Division|

* Molde

* v
* t
* e

1980–81 in European football (UEFA)

« 1979–80

1981–82 »

Domestic leagues|

* Albania
* Austria
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Cyprus
* Czechoslovakia
* Denmark '80 '81
* England
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* Finland '80 '81
* France
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* Iceland '80 '81
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* Poland
* Portugal
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* Romania
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* Spain
* Sweden '80 '81
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Yugoslavia

Domestic cups|

* Albania
* Austria
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Cyprus
* Czechoslovakia
* Denmark
* England
* Faroe Islands '80 '81
* Finland '80 '81
* France
* East Germany
* West Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
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* Israel
* Italy
* Liechtenstein
* Luxembourg
* Malta
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* Northern Ireland
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* Poland
* Portugal
* Republic of Ireland
* Romania
* San Marino
* Scotland
* Soviet Union '81
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Wales
* Yugoslavia

League cups|

* England
* Republic of Ireland
* Scotland

Super cups|

* Soviet Union '81

UEFA competitions|

* European Cup (Final)
* Cup Winners' Cup (Final)
* UEFA Cup (Final)
* Super Cup

Non-UEFA competitions|

* Intertoto Cup
* Balkans Cup

* v
* t
* e

1981–82 in European football (UEFA)

« 1980–81

1982–83 »

Domestic leagues|

* Albania
* Austria
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Cyprus
* Czechoslovakia
* Denmark '81 '82
* England
* Faroe Islands '81 '82
* Finland '81 '82
* France
* East Germany
* West Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland '81 '82
* Israel
* Italy
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Northern Ireland
* Norway '81 '82
* Poland
* Portugal
* Republic of Ireland
* Romania
* Scotland
* Soviet Union '81 '82
* Spain
* Sweden '81 '82
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Yugoslavia

Domestic cups|

* Albania
* Austria
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Cyprus
* Czechoslovakia
* Denmark
* England
* Faroe Islands '81 '82
* Finland '81 '82
* France
* East Germany
* West Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland '81 '82
* Israel
* Italy
* Liechtenstein
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Northern Ireland
* Norway '81 '82
* Poland
* Portugal
* Republic of Ireland
* Romania
* San Marino
* Scotland
* Soviet Union '81 '82
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Wales
* Yugoslavia

League cups|

* England
* Republic of Ireland
* Scotland

Super cups|

* Soviet Union '81

UEFA competitions|

* European Cup (Final)
* Cup Winners' Cup (Final)
* UEFA Cup (Final)

Non-UEFA competitions|

* Intertoto Cup
* Balkans Cup '80–'81 '81–'83

*[Pos]: Position
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points
*[Total]: Total season attendance
*[High]: Highest season attendance
*[Low]: Lowest season attendance
*[Average]: Average season attendance
*[Change]: Change in average attendance in comparison with the previous season
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template